In a significant advancement for breast cancer treatment, the results of the PATINA clinical trial were presented last month at the prestigious San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in the United States. This international study explored whether adding Palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, to standard anti-HER2 therapy and endocrine treatment could extend the lives of women with hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

BCRC-WA has long been committed to participating in leading international clinical trials, partnering with renowned research institutions to investigate new treatments, therapies, and approaches to managing metastatic and early breast cancer. Through these involvements, our patients gain access to groundbreaking treatments that are not yet widely available, offering them hope and potentially life-changing outcomes

We are proud to announce the findings revealed a remarkable improvement in progression-free survival patients who received Palbociclib experienced an additional 15.2 months without disease progression compared to those on standard treatment alone. Furthermore, researchers noted that patients tolerated the treatment well, with manageable side effects, reinforcing its potential as a viable therapeutic option.

Palbociclib, first introduced in 2015, was the first in its class of CDK4/6 inhibitors, a breakthrough in stopping cancer cell division. Previously, CDK4/6 inhibitors were proven to be highly effective when combined with anti-hormone therapy for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. The PATINA trial now extends these promising results to HER2-positive patients, potentially broadening treatment options for thousands worldwide.

Conducted globally, the trial enrolled 496 patients, including 49 from Australia and New Zealand through Breast Cancer Trials, with Professor Elgene Lim serving as the Australian Study Chair. The study was coordinated by Alliance Foundation Trials in collaboration with Pfizer, highlighting the power of international research partnerships in the fight against breast cancer.